VISIT SNORKEL

Every Friday | CWU Greenhouse | 1-3pm

And so he was donated to us because his original owners couldn’t take care of him anymore. He’s been with us ever since.”

Snorkel lives a very comfortable life within the greenhouse. According to Stavney, Sulcata tortoises are native to the grasslands located below the Sahara Desert, which makes the desert room a perfect home for him. Besides living in an environment that suits him, Snorkel is also well taken care of by his caretakers.

Snorkel starts his day by sleeping in until about 10 a.m. where he then makes rounds in the desert room until his bedtime, which is at about 3 p.m. He eats lunch every other day at noon, most of his diet consists of hay and vitamin-rich pellets with the occasional leaves, veggies or flowers mixed in and fruit as an extra special treat. The only thing Snorkel doesn’t seem to like about living in the greenhouse is bath time, though he has learned how to get out of it quickly by spilling all the water out of the kiddy pool.

Even though he’s the only animal living in the greenhouse, Snorkel is never lonely thanks to his caretakers and visitors, though company isn’t always what he wants.

“He’s kind of like a grumpy teenager,” says Stanvey, “I think he’s used to people being around but reptiles don’t necessarily enjoy being pet or receiving attention the way that maybe a dog or a cat would, so it’s more that he tolerates it.”

Occasionally, Snorkel will take time out of his busy schedule to help out students, making appearances during herpetology classes, the study of reptiles and amphibians. “There’s not a specific Snorkel class, as much as I wish there was,” says Stavney.

If you want to see more of Snorkel, you can check out the CWU Greenhouse Instagram to see pictures or visit him in person during the weekly open house on Fridays from 1 - 3 p.m.